but what do you say to that, stephen? >> reporter: but the testimony went on for several uncomfortable minutes, though not every member gave him undivided attention. >> this is america. i don't want a tomato picked by a mexican. i want it picked by an american, then sliced by a guatemalan and served in a spa where a chilean gives me a brazilian. >> reporter: house speaker nancy pelosi saw no problem. >> he's an american. if he has a point of view he can bring attention to an important issue like immigration. >> reporter: republicans said colbert mocked the process. >> if you don't know they were illegal there may have been legal workers there. is that correct? >> i have no idea. >> reporter: privately some worried the spectacle would fan the flames of voter disgust at a time when the electorate is on edge. >> whatever the spanish word for mano is. >> reporter: on thursday night what should have been a candidate debate turned into fight night in vegas as audience members broke into a scuffle tradinging punches while the se